System and Method for Facilitating Accelerated Network Selection Using a Weighted Network List

ABSTRACT

A scheme for facilitating accelerated network selection by a wireless user equipment (UE) device. In one exemplary embodiment, prior to performing a full band scan, the wireless UE device is operable to interrogate a list of networks with which the wireless UE device has registered at least once in a given period of time, wherein a network availability likelihood score may be associated with each of the list of networks. A particular network is selected from the list of networks based on its network availability likelihood score.

PRIORITY UNDER 35 U.S.C. §119(e) & 37 C.F.R. §1.78

This nonprovisional patent application claims priority based upon thefollowing prior U.S. provisional patent application: “METHODS AND SYSTEMFOR EFFECTUATING ACCELERATED NETWORK SELECTION IN A RADIO NETWORKENVIRONMENT BY EMPLOYING WEIGHTED PLMN INFORMAION,” Application No.60/801,849, filed May 19, 2006, in the names of Adrian Buckley andMichael J. Crowley, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application discloses subject matter related to the subject matterdisclosed in the following commonly owned co-pending U.S. patentapplication(s): (i) “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ACCELERATING NETWORKSELECTION BY A WIRELESS USER EQUIPMENT (UE) DEVICE,” filed Jul. 1, 2005;application Ser. No. 11/173,083, in the name(s) of: Adrian Buckley,Andrew Allen and G. Scott Henderson (Attorney Docket No. 1400-1041US)and (ii) “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ACCELERATING NETWORK SELECTION BY AWIRELESS USER EQUIPMENT (UE) DEVICE USING SATELLITE-BASED POSITIONINGSYSTEM,” filed Jul. 1, 2005; application Ser. No. 11/173,040, in thename(s) of: Adrian Buckley and G. Scott Henderson (Attorney Docket No.1400-1044US).

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present patent disclosure generally relates to communicationnetworks. More particularly, and not by way of any limitation, thepresent patent application is directed to a system and method forfacilitating accelerated network selection by a wireless user equipment(UE) device.

BACKGROUND

When a wireless user equipment (UE) device is first powered up or whenit tries to recover from loss of coverage, it is typically required tosearch for its last registered Public Land Mobile Network (RPLMN) inevery supported radio access technology and frequency bands associatedtherewith before attempting to register on another PLMN. The issue foroperators is that when a UE device powers up after a power off conditionand subsequent relocation to a new location, it may have to perform afull band scan (FBS) of all supported bands before possibly selecting aNational Roaming Partner (NRP). Today, such a full scan already takes afairly long time in a dense or complex radio environment, which will befurther exacerbated when additional frequency bands are introduced andmore access technologies are integrated.

In addition, it is important to note that in most scenarios a full bandscan can give rise to inefficient utilization of radio and/or batteryresources. Relatedly, the time to perform a full scan may be so longthat the radio environment may have changed significantly between thetime when the scan was started and the time the UE device decides toselect a new PLMN. As a result, by the time the UE decides to select anew network, another high priority network may have appeared again.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the embodiments of the present patentdisclosure may be had by reference to the following Detailed Descriptionwhen taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 depicts a generalized radio network environment wherein anembodiment of the present patent disclosure may be practiced when awireless UE device is relocated to a new geographic area;

FIGS. 2A-2C depict exemplary embodiments relating to an overall schemefor selecting a particular network from a list of networks forconnecting a wireless UE device;

FIGS. 3-6 depict exemplary tables that include a Last Recent PLMNs liststructure as well as certain channel frequency coding schema accordingto the teachings of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 depicts a table in which a list of networks is downloaded from anetwork base unit, such as a cell tower, for purposes of an embodimentof the present disclosure; and

FIG. 8 depicts a block diagram of an embodiment of a wireless device orUE/ME (user equipment/mobile equipment) device operable to acceleratenetwork selection according to the teachings of the present patentdisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In one embodiment, the present disclosure is directed to a method forfacilitating accelerated network selection by a wireless UE device,comprising: prior to performing a full band scan, interrogating a listof networks with which the wireless UE device has registered at leastonce in a given period of time; determining a network availabilitylikelihood score associated with each of the list of networks; andselecting a network from the list of networks based on its networkavailability likelihood score.

In another embodiment, the present disclosure is directed to a method ofassigning values to networks in a list of networks operable forconnecting a wireless UE device, comprising: determining an array ofdata values corresponding to at least one prior connection attempt ofthe wireless UE device to a particular network, if the wireless UEdevice has previously attempted to connect to the particular network;and determining a network availability likelihood score for theparticular network based upon the array of data values. It will berealized by one of ordinary skill in the art that an “array” as usedherein merely refers to a list of elements, either in one-dimensionalform (e.g., a vector) or in multidimensional form. Accordingly, whereprovided in a vector form, it should be understood that a data vectordoes not refer to any physical/spatial quantity having a magnitude anddirection in conventional sense.

In a still further embodiment, the present disclosure is directed to awireless UE device, comprising: a storage module operative to contain:(a) a weighting factors array, each weighting factor of the weightingfactors array being associated with a data type; (b) a list of networks;and (c) for each network of the list of networks, an array of datavalues including a data value of each data type; and a computationmodule operative to determine a network availability likelihood score ofa selected network, of the list of networks, based upon the array ofdata values corresponding thereto and the weighting factors. In oneimplementation, the storage module may comprise removable storage modulesuch as a Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) card, RemovableUser Identity Module (RUIM) card, a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM)card, or a compact Flash card, Secure Digital (SD) card, etc., or amemory circuit integrated within the UE device.

An apparatus and method of the present patent disclosure will now bedescribed with reference to various examples of how the embodiments canbest be made and used. Like reference numerals are used throughout thedescription and several views of the drawings to indicate like orcorresponding parts, wherein the various elements are not necessarilydrawn to scale. Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly toFIG. 1, depicted therein is an exemplary generalized radio networkenvironment 100 wherein one or more embodiments of the present patentdisclosure may be practiced when a wireless user equipment (UE) devicerelocates to a new geographic area having the exemplary radioenvironment. For purposes of the teachings herein, a generalizedwireless UE device 102 is deemed to be a mobile equipment (ME) devicehaving a removable storage module, and may comprise any portablecomputer (e.g., laptops, palmtops, or handheld computing devices) or amobile communications device (e.g., cellular phones or data-enabledhandheld devices capable of receiving and sending messages, webbrowsing, et cetera), or any enhanced personal digital assistant (PDA)device or integrated information appliance capable of email, video mail,Internet access, corporate data access, messaging, calendaring andscheduling, information management, and the like, that is preferablyoperable in one or more modes of operation and in a number of frequencybands and/or radio access technologies (RATs). For example, UE device102 may operate in the cellular telephony band frequencies such as 450MHz, 700 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 1900 MHz, and 2.4 GHz, etc., as well asWireless Local Area Network (WLAN) bands. Further, other bands in whichthe UE device could operate wirelessly may comprise Wi-Max bands or oneor more satellite bands. Accordingly, for purposes of the present patentdisclosure, those skilled in the art should recognize that the term “UEdevice” or “wireless device” may comprise a ME device (with or withoutany removable storage module such as a USIM/RUIM/SIM card, or a compactFlash card, SD card, etc.) as well as other portable wirelessinformation appliances, also with or without such storage modules.

By way of illustration, the radio network environment 100 is envisionedhaving as one or more categories of communication spaces capable ofproviding service to UE device 102 wherein system acquisition dataprovisioned with the device may be manipulated in accordance with theteachings set forth herein for purposes of facilitating acceleratednetwork selection. In a wide area cellular network (WACN) space 104,there may exist any number of Public Land Mobile Networks (PLMNs) thatare operable to provide cellular telephony services which may or may notinclude packet-switched data services. Depending on the coverage area(s)and whether the user is roaming, WACN space 104 can include a number ofhome networks 110 (i.e., home PLMNs or HPLMNs, or equivalent HPLMNs orEHPLMNs), visited networks (i.e., VPLMNs) 112, each with appropriateinfrastructure such as Home Location Register (HLR) or Home SubscriberServer (HSS) nodes 115, Mobile Switching Center (MSC) nodes 116, and thelike. Since the WACN space 104 may also include a General Packet RadioService (GPRS) network that provides a packet radio access for mobiledevices using the cellular infrastructure of a Global System for MobileCommunications (GSM)-based carrier network, a Serving GPRS Support Node(SGSN) 114 is exemplified therein. Additionally, by way ofgeneralization, the PLMNs of the WACN space 104 may comprise radioaccess and core networks selected from the group comprising EnhancedData Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) networks, Integrated DigitalEnhanced Networks (IDENs), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA)networks, Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) networks, UniversalMobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) networks, or any 3^(rd)Generation Partnership Project (3GPP)-compliant network (e.g., 3GPP or3GPP2), e.g., Evolution-Data Optimized (EVDO) networks, all operatingwith well known technologies, frequency bandwidths and protocols.

Further, UE device 102 is operable to obtain service from an accessnetwork (AN) space 106 that is connected to the WACN space 104. In oneimplementation, the AN space 106 includes one or more generic accessnetworks (GANs) 118 as well as any type of wireless LAN (WLAN)arrangements 120, both of which may be generalized as any wireless ANthat is operable to provide access services between UE device 102 and aPLMN core network using a broadband Internet Protocol (IP)-basednetwork. WLAN arrangements 120 provide short-range wireless connectivityto UE device 102 via access points (APs) or “hot spots,” and can beimplemented using a variety of standards, e.g., IEEE 802.11b, IEEE802.11a, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n, HiperLan and HiperLan II standards,Wi-Max standard (IEEE 802.16 and IEEE 802.16e), OpenAir standard, andthe Bluetooth standard (IEEE 802.15), and the like.

Additionally, there may exist an access network (AN) space 108 notinterfaced to the WACN space 104 that offers short-range wirelessconnectivity to UE device 102. For instance, AN space 108 may compriseWLANs 122 offering non-3GPP services, such as communications over“public” access points (hotels, coffee shops, bookstores, apartmentbuildings, educational institutions, etc., whether free or for fee),enterprise access points, and visited (other enterprise) access pointswhere the user may not be a member of that enterprise but is allowed atleast some services.

Based on the foregoing, it should be recognized that the serviceinfrastructure of the radio network environment 100 may be generalizedinto three broad segments: one or more radio access networks (RANs)(which can include cellular band technologies as well as WLANtechnologies), one or more core networks (CNs), and one or more servicenetworks (SNs). Depending on network ownership arrangements andservice-level agreements, each RAN may support one or more CNs, each ofwhich in turn may support one or more SNs. Such combinations ofinfrastructure equipment across multiple owners are sometimes used tocreate Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs). In some embodiments,the teachings of the present patent disclosure may equally be applicableto MVNOs as to PLMNs. Since each RAN, CN, or SN may be provided with itsown network or system identifier (ID code), numerous RAN-CN-SNcombinations may be available in the network environment 100. As will beseen below, regardless of how the exemplary radio network environment100 to which the user of UE device 102 may have relocated isconstituted, scanning/searching sequence order associated with UE device102 may be advantageously manipulated so as to facilitate acceleratednetwork selection, i.e., without having to perform a time-consuming FBSprocedure while attempting to locate a network for service in theexemplary network environment.

Where CDMA networks are exemplified for use by a UE device, suchnetworks may be identified by System Identifiers (SIDs) and NetworkIdentifiers (NIDs), where a SID typically covers the area of a city orlarge town although there are no strict guidelines or requirements forthe size of SIDs. Accordingly, the definition of each CDMA network maybe determined by individual operators and/or national regulatory bodies.A “NID” is an optional subdivision of a SID, where a NID can identify,e.g., different rating areas, toll areas, private networks, MSCboundaries, or any other subdivision that an operator may want todistinguish within a SID. A national operator may have coverage over anentire country, where for certain countries, this can amount to tens andsometimes hundreds of cities/regions being covered.

WLANs may be identified by means of Service Set IDs (SSIDs) and GSMnetworks may be identified by means of Mobile Country Code (MCC) andMobile Network Code (MNC) combinations. Further, different networks in aparticular technology, e.g., GSM, may support different bands, e.g.,selected from 450 MHz, 700 MHz, 850 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, and 1900MHz. Likewise, CDMA technology (IS-95) networks may operate in twobands, 850 MHz and 1900 MHz, although additional bands may be added. Inaddition, there may be more than one system and acquisition tableprovisioned for a UE device, which may be integrated into a singledatabase. As to storage, as alluded to before, the database structuresalong with certain network lists described below may be embodied in aremovable module such as SIM, RUIM, USIM, Flash memory, or a storagememory circuit integrated within the UE device.

From time to time, the UE device 102 may occasionally be powered upafter a power off condition and subsequent relocation to a new location,or may occasionally try to recover from loss of coverage, or mayoccasionally be required to change from one network to another. In a newenvironment, the UE device 102 may be configured to attempt to acquire anetwork; that is, to attempt to connect to a network. In suchsituations, the UE device 102 may be operative to perform an FBS or amodified scan sequence as set forth herein.

In an FBS, the UE device 102 may be configured to search for its lastregistered Public Land Mobile Network (RPLMN) in every supported radioaccess technology and frequency bands associated therewith beforeattempting to register on another PLMN. If the last PLMN is no longeravailable, the UE device 102 may then begin to search for networksaccording to a search/scan configuration scheme installed within the UEdevice 102 by a manufacturer, vendor or reseller.

In one embodiment, before beginning the FBS, the UE device 102 mayattempt to search for a network in accordance with a method thatincludes at least one teaching of the present disclosure involving astored network database structure (e.g., a list) for facilitatingaccelerated network selection. The method may facilitate selecting aparticular network from a list of networks for connecting the UE device102 based on certain criteria as will be described in detailhereinbelow. As alluded to previously, the list may be maintained, forexample, within a storage module associated with the UE device 102, ormay be maintained in another device that is accessible to the UE device102. Each network of the list of networks may have a networkavailability likelihood score corresponding thereto, and the UE device102 may be configured to attempt to connect to each network in the listof networks, in an order determined in accordance with the networkavailability likelihood score. An FBS may not be required, unless nonetwork of the list of networks is presently available.

In other words, rather than (or prior to) searching all of the networksin an order programmed into the UE device 102 by a manufacturer, vendor,or reseller (e.g., in a system acquisition database), the UE device 102may search a list of networks in accordance with a network availabilitylikelihood score for each network identified in a storage structure. Inanother variation, the search sequence order associated with the systemacquisition database may be manipulated based on the networkavailability likelihood score to accelerate network selection.

The list of networks may preferably include one or more networks withwhich the UE device 102 has previously and/or recently connected, or ofnetworks with which the UE device 102 has attempted to connect. Ifdesired, the list of networks may be limited to include only thosenetworks with which the UE device 102 has connected within a recentperiod of time, e.g. one month, or with which a connection has exceededa threshold signal strength or with no more than a threshold bit error.The UE device 102 may then iteratively search through the list ofnetworks, rather than (or prior to) performing FBS, searching for aparticular network whose network availability likelihood score indicatesa high likelihood that the selected network may be available.

Since the UE device 102 may have been moved since it was last connectedto any network, and since networks may become unavailable from time totime, the list of networks may include networks that are not presentlyavailable. For example, if the UE device 102 is taken on aninternational trip, only some of the networks to which the UE device 102has previously been connected may be available. Similarly, the list ofnetworks may include more than one network that is presently available.In a new location, several networks with which the UE device 102 hasnever previously connected may be available.

The list of networks may include at least one of: a WLAN network, anEVDO network, a Home or Equivalent Home PLMN (EHPLMN or HPLMN), anyvariety of UMTS networks (e.g., UMTS 800, UMTS 1900, UMTS 2100, and thelike) or GSM networks (e.g., EGSM900, GSM1800, GSM850, GSM1900 network,and so on), a TDD network, an FDD network, a 3GPP/3GPP2-compatiblenetwork, to name a few. Where a WLAN is involved, it may be operablewith a number of applicable standards as exemplified previously. Thelist of networks may be organized as a table, as a linked list, or asany other data structure. For example, the list of networks may bemaintained as a table in which each row corresponds to a network, andhaving a column with an index according to which the networks of thelist of networks may be searched. In another implementation, the indexmay be replaced with a pointer to another network having a lower networkavailability likelihood score. In yet another implementation, the listof networks may be maintained as a table of data arrays havinginformation regarding previous connection attempts, and the list ofnetworks may be searched in accordance with a network availabilitylikelihood score that is determined on-the-fly based upon the dataarrays, which may be weighted depending on certain factors.

If the list of networks is not indexed, then the UE device 102 maysearch through the list of networks to find a network whose networkavailability likelihood score indicates a greater likelihood of networkavailability than any other network of the list of networks. The UEdevice 102 may select a “most likely” network, and then may select adifferent network of the list of networks if the list of networks hasmore than one network and if the different network has a networkavailability likelihood score indicating a greater likelihood of beingavailable. Since the list of networks may have only a few networkstherein, and since the processing speed of the UE device 102 can besignificant, a network of the list of networks can be selected promptly.

In some implementations, the UE device 102 may be capable oftransmitting and receiving data over more than one channel, or ofconnecting to more than one network, simultaneously. Accordingly, morethan one network of the list of networks may be selected. If the UEdevice 102 has an antenna or other port, or group of antennae and ports,that is/are capable of simultaneously communicating over more than onechannel, or via more than one network, then more than one network may beselected.

As each network of the list of networks may be selected in an iterativeprocess, the UE device 102 may attempt to connect to the selectednetwork that has the highest availability score. If a connection attemptis not successful, then the UE device 102 may then search through thelist of networks to find a yet-untried network whose networkavailability likelihood score indicates a greater likelihood of networkavailability than any other yet-untried network of the list of networks.Accordingly, the UE device 102 may iteratively attempt to connect toeach network in the list of networks in an order determined inaccordance with the network availability likelihood score of eachnetwork.

The exemplary methodology may thus comprise determining a networkavailability likelihood order, in accordance with the networkavailability likelihood score for each network of the list of networks,such that a scan/search sequence other than a default sequence may beimplemented in order to accelerate network selection. Whereas thenetwork availability likelihood scores may be stored in some sortedorder, it need not be the case since the search sequence order mayemploy pointers to point to the actual sequence of searching regardlessof the location of the networks within the database.

In one embodiment, the method may also include a Modified Full Band Scan(MFBS). If no network of the list of networks is presently available,the UE device 102 may perform a MFBS. The MFBS is similar to an FBS, butomits attempts to connect to networks that are in the list of networks.Since the MFBS proceeds after the UE device 102 has already determinedthat no network of the list of networks is presently available, thenetworks of the list of networks need not be tried within the MFBS.

The UE device 102 may maintain an array of data values for each networkin the list of networks, for each successful connection attempt, and/orfor each connection attempt regardless of success. By determining anarray of data values corresponding to at least one connection attempt(on a per-network basis, for example, such as duration of most recentcall, total duration of all calls, number of connection attempts thathave been successful, number of connection attempts that have beenunsuccessful, percentage of connection attempts that have beensuccessful, time since a most recent successful connection, etc.), theUE device 102 may be able to update the network availability likelihoodscore based on certain weighting, smoothing, or normalizationtechniques.

The array of data values corresponding to the selected network mayinclude at least one of: (a) a connections count, corresponding to anumber of prior connections of the wireless UE device with the selectednetwork; (b) a minutes count, corresponding to a total duration of priorconnections of the wireless UE device and the selected network; and (c)a time lapse value, corresponding to an amount of elapsed time since atleast one prior connection of the wireless UE device and the selectednetwork.

In response to each successful connection, and/or in response to eachconnection attempt regardless of success, the data arrays may beupdated. Alternatively, the data arrays may be updated from time totime, e.g., periodically. Moreover, if no network of the list ofnetworks is presently available and an FBS and/or a MFBS identifies anetwork that is available, then the list of networks may be updated toinclude the network that is available, and may store a data array (orseveral data arrays) corresponding thereto. For each network, the UEdevice 102 may store a count of a number of successful connectionattempts, a count of a number of unsuccessful connection attempts,and/or a count of a number of total connection attempts; if a connectionattempt is successful, then the UE device 102 may create a data arrayindicating a duration of the connection, a time stamp, and/or otherdata. The array of data values corresponding to any network may beupdated on-the-fly, i.e. in response to a connection attempt, regardlessof whether the connection attempt is successful, and/or may be updatedwhen a connection is terminated (so that the duration of the connectionmay be more easily calculated).

From time to time, the UE device 102 may update the network availabilitylikelihood score. In one implementation, the UE device 102 may updatethe network availability likelihood score in response to a successfulconnection attempt, and/or in response to an unsuccessful connectionattempt. In another implementation, the UE device 102 may update thenetwork availability score each time a connection is terminated. In yetanother implementation, the UE device 102 may update the networkavailability score for each network in the list of networks each timethe UE device 102 is powered on and/or is powered off. The networkavailability likelihood score may be updated on-the-fly, i.e. for eachnetwork whenever the UE device 102 is powered up or when it tries torecover from loss of coverage, or may be updated as a background processin preparation for a subsequent power-up or recovery from loss ofcoverage. The network availability likelihood score may also oralternatively be updated periodically, e.g. in response to every n^(th)connection, every n^(th) connection attempt, and/or whenever no updatehas occurred within a predetermined number of days. The time stamp maybe particularly relevant where a network may be available only duringcertain hours of each day, or only during weekdays or only duringweekends. Also, since different networks may have different costsassociated therewith, the network likelihood availability score may bebiased in favor of less expensive networks.

For example, if the UE device 102 maintains both a count of totalconnection attempts and a count of successful connection attempts foreach network of the list of networks, then the UE device 102 may be ableto determine a percentage of connection attempts that have beensuccessful. If a connection attempt is successful, then the networkavailability likelihood score may be modified to indicate that thenetwork is more likely to be available for subsequent connectionattempts; if a connection attempt is not successful, then the networkavailability likelihood score may be modified to indicate that thenetwork is less likely to be available for subsequent connectionattempts. Those skilled in the art will recognize that such computationsmay be modulated or refined further based on other factors as well.

In updating the network availability likelihood score, the UE device 102may evaluate one or more arrays of data values corresponding to at leastone prior connection attempt of the wireless UE device to one or morenetworks of the list of networks, if the wireless UE device haspreviously attempted to connect to the selected network. The UE device102 may also update an order in which the list of networks is searched.The UE device 102 may compare the network availability likelihood scorethat has been updated with a network availability likelihood score of atleast one other network in the list of networks. The UE device 102 mayupdate an index and/or a linked list of networks to reflect an updatedorder, such that upon a subsequent execution of the method the UE device102 can attempt to connect to each network of the list of networks in anorder of decreasing likelihood of network availability. The order may beupdated on-the-fly, i.e. for each network whenever the UE device 102 ispowered up or when it tries to recover from loss of coverage, or may beupdated as a background process in preparation for a subsequent power-upor recovery from loss of coverage.

Updating the network availability likelihood score may includedetermining a function of (a) a weighting factors array and (b) thearray of data values. In one exemplary embodiment, determining thefunction includes at least one of, inter alia: (a) multiplying aconnections count, corresponding to a number of prior connections of thewireless UE device and the selected network, by a connections countweighting factor of the weighting factors array; (b) multiplying aminutes count, corresponding to a total duration of prior connections ofthe wireless UE device and the selected network, by a minutes countweighting factor of the weighting factors array; and (c) multiplying atime lapse value, corresponding to an amount of elapsed time since atleast one time/date stamp of at least one prior connection of thewireless UE device and the selected network, by a time lapse weightingfactor of the weighting factors array. It will be appreciated that otherparameters and/or variables may also be employed, which may involvetheir own corresponding weighting factors or values.

Additionally, the UE device 102 may update the weighting factors also,either periodically or otherwise. For example, the UE device 102 mayupdate the weighting factors in response to each connection attempt.Various filtering approaches, such as adaptive filtering, may be used toupdate the weighting factors. The weighting factors may be updatedperiodically, e.g. in response to every n^(th) connection, every n^(th)connection attempt, and/or whenever no update has occurred within apredetermined number of days. One embodiment may comprise adjusting atleast one weighting factor of the weighting factors array, such that theselected network is more likely to be selected upon a subsequentconnection attempt. The method may further comprise at least one of:updating the connections count corresponding to the selected network;updating the minutes count corresponding to the selected network; andappending a time/date stamp to a list of time/date stamps correspondingto the selected network.

Accordingly, the methodology may comprise iteratively attempting aconnection to each network of the list of networks in accordance withthe network availability likelihood order until a connection attempt issuccessful; updating the array of data values corresponding to theselected network for which the connection attempt is successful; andupdating the weighting factors array such that, within the networkavailability likelihood order, each network precedes each other networkthat is less likely to be available.

While updating the data arrays may be performed without significantcomputation, and while updating the network availability likelihoodscore for a network may be performed in response to the data arrays,updating the weighting factors may be more involved, and may includeadjusting the means, modules and/or methods by which the networkavailability likelihood score is updated. Accordingly, updating theweighting factors may provide “feedback” to the updating of the networkavailability likelihood score.

An update module may be included, and may perform the updating of thedata arrays, the network availability likelihood score, and/or and theweightings arrays. The update module may be operative to (a) update theweighting factors array such that the selected network is more likely tobe selected upon a subsequent connection attempt, and (b) update thearray of data values corresponding to the selected network, in responseto a connection attempt of the wireless UE device and the selectednetwork.

The update module may reside within a computation module, which mayfurther be operative to determine a network availability likelihoodscore of each network, of the list of networks, based upon the array ofdata values corresponding thereto and based upon the weighting factors;and to assign a network availability likelihood order to each network,of the list of networks, in accordance with the array of data valuescorresponding thereto and in accordance with the weighting factorsarray.

Thus, an embodiment of a wireless UE device, such as the UE device 102may comprise a storage module or storage means, and a computation moduleor computation means. The storage module or storage means is operativeto contain: (a) a weighting factors array, each weighting factor of theweighting factors array being associated with a data type; (b) a list ofnetworks; and (c) for each network of the list of networks, an array ofdata values including a data value of each data type. The computationmodule or computation means is operative to determine a networkavailability likelihood score of a selected network, of the list ofnetworks, based upon the array of data values corresponding thereto andbased upon the weighting factors.

The wireless UE device may accordingly also comprise an update module,in software, hardware, firmware, or in any combination thereof insuitable means, operative to (a) update the weighting factors array suchthat the selected network is more likely to be selected upon asubsequent connection attempt, and (b) update the array of data valuescorresponding to the selected network, in response to a connectionattempt of the wireless UE device and the selected network. In oneimplementation, the array of data values corresponding to the selectednetwork includes at least one of: (a) a connections count, correspondingto a number of prior connections of the wireless UE device and theselected network; (b) a minutes count, corresponding to a total durationof prior connections of the wireless UE device and the selected network;and (c) a time lapse value, corresponding to an amount of elapsed timesince at least one prior connection of the wireless UE device and theselected network. Additionally, as alluded to previously, thecomputation means associated with the UE device is further operative to:determine a network availability likelihood score of each network, ofthe list of networks, based upon the array of data values correspondingthereto and based upon the weighting factors; and assign a networkavailability likelihood order to each network, of the list of networks,in accordance with the array of data values corresponding thereto and inaccordance with the weighting factors array.

Referring now to FIGS. 2A-2C, depicted therein are exemplary embodimentsrelating to selecting a particular network from a list of networks forconnecting a wireless UE device in accordance with the teachings setforth hereinabove. In particular, FIG. 2C depicts an overall scheme 200Cwherein an FBS procedure may be advantageously avoided. Upon starting(block 252), which may involve e.g., re-powering the device after a lossof network connectivity, a list of networks may be interrogated prior toperforming an FBS (block 254), wherein the list of networks ispreferably populated with the networks with which the UE device hasrecently registered or in a given period of time (such as, for instance,a week, a month, etc.). A network availability likelihood scoreassociated with each network may be determined as described herein(block 256), whereby a network may be selected based on its networkavailability likelihood score (block 258). Scanning may be effectuatedin one or more frequency bands associated with the selected network fornetwork discovery and subsequent registration (block 260). If there isno successful discovery and/or registration (block 262), the processflow may iteratively select the next likely network (blocks 264 and258). Once a network is discovered, normal telecommunications operationsmay ensue thereafter (block 266).

With respect to FIGS. 2A and 2B, depicted therein is an exemplarymethodology including assignment of values to networks in a list ofnetworks operable for selection by a wireless UE device. As alluded toin the foregoing sections, the list of networks may include a variety ofnetworks. As illustrated herein, an embodiment 200A may includeattempting to connect (block 202) to at least one network of the list ofnetworks, in accordance with an order and/or in accordance with anetwork availability likelihood score corresponding to the network ofthe list of networks. The method may include searching a list ofnetworks (block 204), i.e. selecting a network of the list of networksand then selecting a different network of the list of networks (block206) if the list of networks has more than one network and if thedifferent network has a network availability likelihood score indicatinga greater likelihood of being available.

Embodiment 200A may include determining and/or updating an array of datavalues (block 208) corresponding to at least one connection attempt ofthe wireless UE device to the selected network. The process may alsocomprise updating the connections count corresponding to the selectednetwork, updating the minutes count corresponding to the selectednetwork, and appending a time/date stamp to a list of time/date stampscorresponding to the selected network.

In another aspect, embodiment 200B relates to determining a networkavailability likelihood score for a selected network (block 210) basedupon the array of data values. Determining a network availabilitylikelihood score for the selected network further may includedetermining a function (block 212) of (a) a weighting factors array and(b) the array of data values. The function may correspond to the means,modules and/or methods described above. Specifically, the method mayinclude (block 214) any known or heretofore unknown statistical and/ormathematical computations involving arrays, such as scalar productcomputations as exemplified hereinabove.

Embodiment 200B may further comprise adjusting (block 216) at least oneweighting factor of the weighting factors array, such that a selectednetwork is more likely to be selected upon a subsequent connectionattempt. Additionally, as the network availability likelihood score isupdated, the method may include determining a network availabilitylikelihood order (block 218), in accordance with the networkavailability likelihood score for each network of the list of networks.For instance, the scores may be sorted such that within the networkavailability likelihood order each network precedes each other networkthat is less likely to be available. Furthermore, it should beappreciated that the various operations set forth herein and elsewheremay be accomplished via a number of means, including software (e.g.,program code), firmware, hardware, or in any combination, usually inassociation with a processing system. Where the processes are embodiedin software, such software may comprise program instructions that form acomputer program product, uploadable service application software, orsoftware downloadable from a remote station, and the like.

Based on the foregoing, an exemplary application scenario may bedescribed as follows. Since most people travel in a limited geographicarea (home, work, school/daycare, gym, shopping mall, etc.), the networklist associated with a subscriber would be relatively short. When thewireless UE device powers-on or otherwise seeks to acquire service, thePLMNs on the recent list would be checked to see if service is availablefrom any of these PLMNs. If service is not available from any of thePLMNs on the list, an FBS or modified FBS may be initiated as alluded topreviously. The network list could preferably be weighted so thatmost-frequently used PLMNs would be searched before less-frequently usedones. For example, the PLMN providing coverage for a user's home or workwould probably be used more frequently than PLMNs used while travelingbetween home and work or while traveling out of the user's normalhabitat. The weighing factor would be based on the amount of time spentin a PLMN coverage area. The list could also be weighted based on whereservice is usually reacquired. For example, if the user loses coveragewhile in an elevator or traveling through a tunnel, service would bereacquired after leaving the elevator or exiting the tunnel. So, thePLMNs at the reacquisition points would be prioritized higher eventhrough the amount of time spent being served by the PLMN may be shorterthan at the user's home or office. Similarly, if the user typicallyturns the wireless UE device off while having lunch and turns it onagain afterward, the PLMN serving his favorite restaurant would have ahigher priority on the reacquired service list than his home or office(where he spends more time).

FIGS. 3-6 depict exemplary database embodiments, e.g., tables, thatinclude a Last Recent PLMNs list structure as well as certain channelfrequency coding schema according to the teachings of the presentdisclosure. Table 300 of FIG. 3 may include a data array for eachnetwork of the list of networks. For example, in a first row, table 300may include a data array or data vector pertaining to a networkidentified by a network IDa 302. The first row array may also include achannel and/or frequency band(s) 304 on which the UE device was lastcamped as well as a network time stamp 306 and a total time on networkvalue 308. Other rows of the table of FIG. 3 may include other dataarrays pertaining to other networks, e.g., IDb 310 and IDc 312, and mayalso include networks available nearby (i.e., “neighbor frequencies”).

The network time stamp 306 may be available directly from one or morenetworks, or may be maintained by a clock within the UE device. Ifavailable via the network, it is the last known time that the UE devicemade a registration on that network. In the case of GSM, the networktime stamp may be associated with a Location Update, or in the case ofGPRS, it may be associated with an Attach or Routing Area Update. Thetotal time on network 308 may comprise the amount of time the UE devicehas spent on a network, which may be used to sort the networks inaccordance with some order. A clock within the UE device may allow theUE device to determine a time stamp for unsuccessful connection attemptsas well as for successful connection attempts. If a clock maintains thenetwork time stamp 306, then the clock may be updated when a connectionattempt is successful. A separate time stamp may be maintained for eachconnection attempt, or a time stamp may be maintained only for a mostrecent successful connection attempt. With respect to thechannel/frequency column 304 of the network list 300, various knownchannel frequency coding schemes may be used wherein certain channels orfrequencies may be scanned to find a particular network.

FIG. 4 depicts a Network ID Expansion Table 400 in accordance with oneimplementation of the embodiment described with respect to FIG. 3. Forexample, in FIG. 3, a network ID (network IDa) 302 may be associatedwith a pointer that points to a block 402 of data (pertaining to thenetwork IDa) in a collection of table rows identified in block 402within the Network ID Expansion Table 400 of FIG. 4. Similarly, anetwork ID (network IDb) 310 may be associated with a pointer to a block404 of data (pertaining to the network IDb) in a collection of tablerows identified in the block 404, and a network ID (network IDc) 312 maybe provided with a pointer to a block 406 of data (pertaining to thenetwork IDc) in a collection of table rows identified in the block 406.The data within each table may be stored as a TLV (i.e., atype/value/length) data format.

Table 500 depicted in FIG. 5 may allow further expansion of the tabledepicted in FIG. 4, which may be useful when a tag “A0” is presentwithin a GSM block of data. Similarly, table 600 depicted in FIG. 6 mayallow further expansion of the table depicted in FIG. 4, which may beuseful when a tag “A1” is present within an FDD block of data. Althoughnot shown, a similar table may also allow further expansion of the tabledepicted in FIG. 4, which may be useful when a tag “A2” is presentwithin a TDD block of data.

FIG. 7 depicts a table 700 in which a list of networks may be downloadedfrom a network base unit, such as a cell tower, which may be operableaccording to the teachings of one embodiment of the present disclosure.The network base unit and the UE device may be preloaded with anextensive list of licensed networks, and the list of networks maytherefore be implemented as a set of network identifiers indicatingwhich licensed networks are available in a particular location. The listof networks may be provided from the network base unit via a broadcastmessage, in accordance with a broadcast message structure depicted inFIG. 7 wherein a column of Information Element Identifiers (IEIs) areprovided. Each IEI may include an L2 Pseudo Length 702, a Radio Resource(RR) Management Protocol Discriminator 704, a Skip Indicator 706, and aSystem Information Type/Message Type 708. Finally, the broadcast messagestructure may include the list of networks, identified in FIG. 7 as aPLMN Channel List 710.

FIG. 8 depicts a block diagram of an embodiment of a wireless device orUE/ME device (designated UE device 800) operable to accelerate networkselection according to the teachings of the present patent disclosure.It will be recognized by those skilled in the art upon reference heretothat although an embodiment of UE device 800 may comprise UE 102 shownin FIG. 1, there can be a number of variations and modifications, inhardware, software or firmware, with respect to the various modulesdepicted. Accordingly, the arrangement of FIG. 8 should be taken asillustrative rather than limiting with respect to the embodiments of thepresent patent disclosure. A microprocessor 802 providing for theoverall control of UE device 800 is operably coupled to a communicationsubsystem 804 that includes transmitter/receiver (transceiver)functionality for effectuating multi-mode scanning and communicationsover a plurality of bands. By way of example, a wide area wireless Tx/Rxmodule 806 and an AN Tx/Rx module 808 are illustrated. Although notparticularly shown, each Tx/Rx module may include other associatedcomponents such as one or more local oscillator (LO) modules, RFswitches, RF bandpass filters, A/D and D/A converters, processingmodules such as digital signal processors (DSPs), local memory, etc. Aswill be apparent to those skilled in the field of communications, theparticular design of the communication subsystem 804 may be dependentupon the communications networks with which the UE device is intended tooperate. In one embodiment, the communication subsystem 804 is operablewith both voice and data communications.

Microprocessor 802 also interfaces with further device subsystems suchas auxiliary input/output (I/O) 818, serial port 820, display 822,keyboard 824, speaker 826, microphone 828, random access memory (RAM)830, a short-range communications subsystem 832, and any other devicesubsystems generally labeled as reference numeral 833. To controlaccess, a removal storage module or RSM (SIM/RUIM/USIM) interface 834 isalso provided in communication with the microprocessor 802. In oneimplementation, RSM interface 834 is operable with an RSM card having anumber of key configurations 844 and other information 846 such asidentification and subscriber-related data as well as one or more PLMNlists described in detail hereinabove, as well as preferred/forbiddenSSID/PLMN lists, network weights, filters and other databases whereapplicable.

Operating system software and other control software may be embodied ina persistent storage module (i.e., non-volatile storage) such as Flashmemory 835. In one implementation, Flash memory 835 may be segregatedinto different areas, e.g., storage area for computer programs 836 aswell as data storage regions such as device state 837, address book 839,other personal information manager (PIM) data 841, and other datastorage areas generally labeled as reference numeral 843. Additionally,appropriate network discovery/scanning selection logic 840 may beprovided as part of the persistent storage for executing the variousnetwork discovery/scanning and accelerated selection procedures setforth in the preceding sections. Additionally or alternatively, anotherlogic module 848 may be provided for facilitating home networkauthentication, location interrogation, etc. Associated therewith is astorage module, designated SSID/PLMN Data, Preference Lists and Filters838, for storing the SSID/PLMN lists, location-based selection and/orscanning filters, capability indicators, etc.

In view of the teachings set forth herein, the various logic blocks ofwireless UE device 800 should be understood as comprising at least oneor more of the following: a logic structure for interrogating a list ofnetworks with which the wireless UE device has registered at least oncein a given period of time; a logic structure for determining a networkavailability likelihood score associated with each of the list ofnetworks; and a logic structure for selecting a network from the list ofnetworks based on its network availability likelihood score.Additionally, the various embodiments of computational techniquesdescribed hereinabove may be implemented in suitable software and/orfirmware associated with the UE device 800.

It is believed that the operation and construction of the embodiments ofthe present patent application will be apparent from the DetailedDescription set forth above. While the exemplary embodiments shown anddescribed may have been characterized as being preferred, it should bereadily understood that various changes and modifications could be madetherein without departing from the scope of the present disclosure asset forth in the following claims.

1. A method for facilitating accelerated network selection by a wirelessuser equipment (UE) device, comprising: prior to performing a full bandscan, interrogating a list of networks with which said wireless UEdevice has registered at least once in a given period of time;determining a network availability likelihood score associated with eachof said list of networks; and selecting a network from said list ofnetworks based on its network availability likelihood score.
 2. Themethod for facilitating accelerated network selection by a wireless UEdevice as recited in claim 1, wherein said selecting is performed aspart of an initial scan procedure.
 3. The method for facilitatingaccelerated network selection by a wireless UE device as recited inclaim 1, wherein said selecting is performed after losing coverage of anetwork with which said wireless UE device was previously registered andsaid wireless UE device is powered back up.
 4. The method forfacilitating accelerated network selection by a wireless UE device asrecited in claim 1, further comprising scanning in a frequency bandassociated with said network selected from said list of networks.
 5. Themethod for facilitating accelerated network selection by a wireless UEdevice as recited in claim 1, wherein said list of networks includes anetwork that is operable with at least one of IEEE 802.11b standard,IEEE 802.11a standard, IEEE 802.11 g standard, IEEE 802.11n standard,HiperLan standard, HiperLan II standard, Wi-Max standard, OpenAirstandard, and Bluetooth standard.
 6. The method for facilitatingaccelerated network selection by a wireless UE device as recited inclaim 1, wherein said list of networks includes at least one of aGeneral Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network, an Enhanced Data Rates forGlobal System for Mobile Communications (GSM) Evolution (EDGE) network,a 3^(rd) Generation Partnership Project (3GPP)-compliant network, anIntegrated Digital Enhanced Network (IDEN), a Code Division MultipleAccess (CDMA) network, a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System(UMTS) network, a 3GPP2 network, and a Time Division Multiple Access(TDMA) network.
 7. The method for facilitating accelerated networkselection by a wireless UE device as recited in claim 1, wherein saidlist of networks is provided as part of a Universal Subscriber IdentityModule (USIM) card, Removable User Identity Module (RUIM) card, aSubscriber Identity Module (SIM) card, a compact Flash card, a SecureDigital (SD) card, or a memory circuit integrated within said wirelessUE device.
 8. The method for facilitating accelerated network selectionby a wireless UE device as recited in claim 1, further comprising: ifmultiple networks are determined to have identical network availabilitylikelihood scores, choosing a particular network for service based on apriority parameter.
 9. The method for facilitating accelerated networkselection by a wireless UE device as recited in claim 1, wherein saidlist of networks is populated based on where said wireless UE device waslast powered off.
 10. A method of assigning values to networks in a listof networks operable for connecting a wireless user equipment (UE)device, comprising: determining an array of data values corresponding toat least one prior connection attempt of said wireless UE device to aparticular network, if said wireless UE device has previously attemptedto connect to said particular network; and determining a networkavailability likelihood score for said particular network based uponsaid array of data values.
 11. The method of assigning values tonetworks in a list of networks as recited in claim 10, wherein saiddetermining a network availability likelihood score for said particularnetwork further includes determining a function of (a) a weightingfactors array and (b) said array of data values.
 12. The method ofassigning values to networks in a list of networks as recited in claim11, wherein determining said function includes at least one of (a)multiplying a connections count, corresponding to a number of priorconnections of said wireless UE device with said particular network, bya connections count weighting factor of said weighting factors array;(b) multiplying a minutes count, corresponding to a total duration ofprior connections of said wireless UE device with said particularnetwork, by a minutes count weighting factor of said weighting factorsarray; and (c) multiplying a time lapse value, corresponding to anamount of elapsed time since at least one time stamp of at least oneprior connection of said wireless UE device with said particularnetwork, by a time lapse weighting factor of said weighting factorsarray.
 13. The method of assigning values to networks in a list ofnetworks as recited in claim 12, further comprising adjusting at leastone weighting factor of said weighting factors array such that saidparticular network is more likely to be selected upon a subsequentconnection attempt.
 14. The method of assigning values to networks in alist of networks as recited in claim 12, further comprising at least oneof: updating said connections count corresponding to said particularnetwork; updating said minutes count corresponding to said particularnetwork; and appending said time stamp to a list of time stampscorresponding to said particular network.
 15. The method of assigningvalues to networks in a list of networks as recited in claim 10, furthercomprising determining a network availability likelihood scoreassociated with each network of said list of networks for rearrangingsaid list of networks in an order based on said network availabilitylikelihood score.
 16. The method of assigning values to networks in alist of networks as recited in claim 15, further comprising: iterativelyattempting a connection to each network of said list of networks inaccordance with said network availability likelihood scores until aconnection attempt is successful; updating said array of data valuescorresponding to a selected network for which said connection attempt issuccessful; and updating said weighting factors array.
 17. A wirelessuser equipment (UE) device, comprising: a storage module operative tocontain: (a) a weighting factors array, each weighting factor of saidweighting factors array being associated with a data type; (b) a list ofnetworks; and (c) for each network of said list of networks, an array ofdata values including a data value of each data type; and a computationmodule operative to determine a network availability likelihood score ofa selected network, of said list of networks, based upon said array ofdata values corresponding thereto and said weighting factors.
 18. Thewireless UE device as recited in claim 17, further comprising an updatemodule operative to update said weighting factors array based on historyof connections by said wireless UE device with one or more networks ofsaid list of networks.
 19. The wireless UE device as recited in claim17, wherein said array of data values corresponding to the selectednetwork includes at least one of: (a) a connections count, correspondingto a number of prior connections of said wireless UE device and aselected network; (b) a minutes count, corresponding to a total durationof prior connections of said wireless UE device and a selected network;and (c) a time lapse value, corresponding to an amount of elapsed timesince at least one prior connection of said wireless UE device and aselected network.
 20. The wireless UE device as recited in claim 17,further comprising means for manipulating a scanning order sequencebased on said network availability likelihood scores associated withsaid list of networks.
 21. The wireless UE device as recited in claim17, wherein said storage module comprises a removable module.
 22. Thewireless UE device as recited in claim 17, wherein said storage modulecomprises a memory circuit integrated within said wireless UE device.